Apparatus for lifting of heavy loads

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for lifting and lowering of heavy loads by means of mountable masts, which apparatus comprises climbing members interacting with climbing rods passing through the climbing members. The climbing members are placed on a climbing frame which via the rods interacts with a load frame and stage supports, which frame and supports are relieved through interaction with cleats on the masts during a complete lifting period.

United States Patent 1 Blankenburg I [451 Dec. 23, 1975 [5 APPARATUS FOR LIFI'ING 0F HEAVY 3.028.143 4/1962 Cheskin 254/:05 LOADS 3,053.0]5 9/l962 Graham l 254/l06 3,522,93] 8/!970 Heidenstam 254/105 Inventor: C l-H n i Teodor Blankenburg, 3,793,702 2 1974 Ahlgren 254/107 T S d 'f we FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: wllcstrom International AB, H6 289 SW96, U S S R 254/105 Stockholm, Sweden [22] i ed: Jan. 23, 1974 Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Robert C. Watson [2]] Appl' 435318 Attorney, Agent, or FirmFlynn & Frishauf [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Jan. 29, I973 Sweden 730l208 An apparatus for lifting and lowering of heavy loads by means of mountable masts, which apparatus com- [52] US. Cl. 254/105 prises climbing members interacting with climbing [5i] lnt. Cl. B66F 1/00 rods passing through the climbing members. The [58] Field of Search 254/ IDS-I07, climbing members are placed on a climbing frame 254/89 H which via the rods interacts with a load frame and stage supports, which frame and supports are relieved References Cited through interaction with cleats on the masts during 21 UNITED STATES PATENTS Complete lifting P 2,822,670 2/1958 Sudcrow 254/l06 11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 5 8 1/1/17 II]? 5 5 Z 43 1 L l AA US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,927,865

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US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of 2 3,927,865

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This invention relates to apparatus for stagewise lifting and/or lowering of heavy loads with the aid of one or several preferably mountable or dismountable climbing masts, for example with the load placed be tween two or more climbing masts, which apparatus features climbing members each and every one of which interacts with a climbing rod passing through the respective climbing member.

Climbing masts with hydraulic jacks are used as lifting means for lifting of heavy loads to high height. The climbing jacks work on pressed rods and the climbing masts serve as buckle-relieving elements for the climbing rods. The climbing rods then have the same height extent as the climbing masts and since the climbing rods must be generously dimensioned in relation to the load which is to be lifted or lowered they will be very heavy. Climbing masts are also used when the climbing jacks are placed on the top of the mast or the tops of the masts and in such cases the load is raised with pulled rods or steel ropes.

The advantage of the climbing jacks working on the pressed rods is that the mast or masts are loaded in pace with the lifting of the load and the necessary bracing can thus take place successively at a lower level than that at which the load at the time is located. The disadvantages of this system are the weight of the climbing rods and the large quantities needed of these expensive rods.

In the case of climbing masts where the hydraulic jacks are placed in the tops of the climbing masts the advantage is that the pulled rods or steel ropes have relatively smaller dimensions than in the case of pressed climbing rods for a corresponding load, while the disadvantage is that the weight load always lies in the respective mast tops. This latter disadvantage means that the masts must always be fully braced during the whole of the vertical movement process. Such bracing causes difficulties in providing a free passage for the load during its vertical travel, since the bracing always has to be carried out in at least three directions and in the case of high masts also in several levels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus by means of which the weight load on the climbing masts is always exerted successively in pace with the vertical travel of the load, whereby the bracing can take place successively in pace with the vertical travel of the load but under the load. Moreover, use is made in the apparatus according to the invention of the relation to the height of the climbing masts only short climbing rods exposed mostly to pulling, which gives a substantial saving, since such climbing rods are expensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further details of the apparatus according to the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I shows a part of two climbing masts with a heavy load placed between them,

FIGS. 2 and 3 show examples of the cross-sectional appearance of different climbing masts,

FIG. 4 shows the cleats of the bearing frames and the support cleats of the climbing masts,

FIG. 5 shows a climbing jack viewed from the front,

2 FIG. 6 shows the jack according to FIG. 5 viewed from the side and FIG. 7 shows the climbing jack viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows VII-VII in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The climbing masts I0, 10', which are often chosen to work in pairs with the load placed between them, consist preferably of mountable and dismountable sections, the length of which in the present case has been chosen as 3 meters. The said mast sections are each provided with support cleats designated 31 in mast section 1, which support cleats preferably are attached at alike distances between them and once per mast section. These support cleats serve as supports for three bearing frames designated load frame 5, climbing frame 4 and stage frame/stage support 8 respectively.

On the climbing frame 4, one or a plurality of climbers 2 are placed and attached, which climbers in the embodiment now being described consist of lifting jacks 2. Running through the climbing jacks 2 are climbing rods 6. The jacks 2 each consists of preferably of two co-operating jacks 2a, 2b, which are placed between an upper yoke 12 and a lower yoke 13 and which have a suitable stroke length and are doubleacting. Placed by the yokes 12, 13 for the hydraulic jacks are nuts 9, 9', in which the threaded climbing rods 6 work. When the jacks 2a, 2b are pressed out the load hangs in the nuts 9' of the upper yoke 12 via the support dish 14' and the nuts 9 of the lower yoke 13 are free to be screwed towards the lower yoke 13. During the return stroke of the jacks the load hangs in the nuts of the lower yoke via the support plate and the nuts of the upper yoke are free to be screwed towards the upper yoke 12.

The load frame 5 is supported via pull joints by the climbing rods 6 and through these interacts with the climbing frame 4, which in its turn interacts with the stage frame 8, which by means of both pull and push joints is connected with the climbing rods 6. The stage frame 8 is preferably of a lighter construction than the climbing frame 4 and the load frame 5. The load frame 5 is preferably by means of a girder structure 7 connected with the load I5 or a part thereof, for instance via a ball joint 1.

The bearing frames are located in the sequence, viewed in the vertical direction of the climbing masts with the load frame 5 lowermost, above this the climbing frame 4 and uppermost the stage frame 8, which arrangement can be seen for example from FIG. I.

In assembly, the load frame 5 is placed for example on support cleat 31 of the lowermost section designated section 41 of the climbing mast with the aid of other cleats 3!, attached to the load frame 5, which cleats 31, 3t are made to interact with each other by means of a movable connector 11 which is selectively engageable and disengageable between pairs of said cleats. The climbing frame 4 with its climbers 2 is placed on support cleat 33 (not shown) in mast section 43 with the aid of other cleats 33' (not shown) via a switchable connector ll (not shown), and the stage frame 8 is erected on the cleats 34 (not shown) in mast section 44 via a switchable connector II, (not shown) with the aid of other cleats 34' (not shown), which other cleats 31', 33, 34' are all located on the respective bearing frame. The parts not shown in the drawings comprise logical counterparts to the parts which are 3 shown in the drawings.

Lifting takes place in such a manner that the climbers 2 lift the load frame 5 through a plurality of strokelength movements of the climbers to support cleats 32 (not shown) in stage 42 where the climbing rods 6 are relieved in that the load frame 5 via its cleats 31' and connector 11 is placed on the support cleats 32 in this mast section. In the course of the said lifting, the stage frame 8 has been pushed up by the upper part of the climbing rods 6 to support cleats 35 (not shown) in mast section 45 and has been placed on these via its cleats 33' and connector 11 The climbing frame 4 will then be lifted to mast section 44, the procedure being somewhat different depending upon which climbing system is utilized.

In the case of climbers with wedge systems the climbers must be turned upside down and lifting of the climb ing frame 4 takes place according to the system with moving climbers on a fixed rod.

In the case of climbers working on a threaded climb ing rod 6, as is shown in the illustrated embodiment, with movable bearer nuts 9, 9', they are placed after relieving of the load frame 5 on the support cleats released support dishes 14, I4 and the bearer nuts 9, 9' under the two yokes 12, 13 of the climber. The two main and return cylinders of the jacks switch functions. The jacks are pressed out unloaded. The upper support dish with bearer nut 9' is moved to the lower edge of the upper yoke. Pressure is then applied to the return cylinders of the jacks, which compress the climber so that the climbing frame 4 is raised. The lower support dish with its bearer nut 9 is moved up to the lower edge of the lower yoke 13 and the operation is repeated until the climber frame 4 has been placed on support cleats 34 in mast section 44.

A new lifting operation of the load can now be performed.

Conversely, a lowering of a load is carried out by lowering the load step by step from mast section to mast section.

In assembling climbing masts for lifting to high heights the climbing masts do not need to be assembled to full height before commencement of lifting and instead assembling can take place at the pace of lifting. Use is then made of for instance a simple rack elevator to raise the mast sections or of a swinging crane jib which is successively attached to that mast section which is uppermost at the time.

In a corresponding manner the climbing masts can be dismounted as the climber system is moved downwards upon completion of the lifting operation.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for lifting and/or lowering a heavy load (15) in a plurality of stages along at least one climbing mast (10,10'), comprising:

at least one climbing mast (10,I');

a plurality of climbing rods (6);

a climbing frame (4);

a plurality of climbing members (2) mounted to said climbing frame (4), each climbing member (2) cooperating with a respective climbing rod (6) for lifting and/or lowering said climbing frame (4) relative to said at least one climbing mast (10,]0'

a load frame carrying at least a part of the load and being coupled to and below said climbing frame (4);

a stage support (8) cooperatively coupled via respective climbing rods (6) with said climbing frame (4);

at least one support cleat (31) mounted to said at least one climbing mast ([0,10'); and

connecting means (11) for selectively engaging said at least one cleat (31) with at least one of said frames (4,5) and stage support (8) so as to carry the load on said at least one cleat (31) for at least a portion of a complete stage lifting period, a stage lifting period comprising the period for moving the load over a complete section of said at least one climbing mast (10,10'), thereby relieving the load from said climbing rods (6).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said frames (4,5) and stage support (8) has a cleat (31') coupled thereto, said connecting means (11) selectively engaging both of said cleats (31,31).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said respective frames (4,5) and stage support (8) completely surround said at least one climbing mast, viewed in the cross section of the masts.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frames (4,5) and stage support (8) are located in the sequence, viewed in the vertical direction of said at least one mast with the load frame (5) lowermost, above this the climbing frame (4) and uppermost the stage support (8).

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said climbing rods (6) are fastened in said stage support (8) and in the load frame (5) so that said stage support (8) transmits both upward and downward forces and said load frame (5) transmits downward forces to said climbing rods (6).

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a ball joint means coupling said load frame (5) to said load l5).

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each section of said at least one climbing mast is provided with respective support cleats; and wherein the respective frames (4,5) and stage support (8) are each provided with other respective cleats and with respective connecting means for selectively engaging said other respective cleats with said mast support cleats at least on some occasion during a complete lifting period of said load (15).

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said climbing frame (4) comprises two double'acting jacks (2a,2b) which interact with each other via two yokes (12,13).

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one climbing mast is a multi-section (4l45) climbing mast.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said sections (41-45) of said at least one climbing mast are successively coupled to or dismounted from the immediately preceding section in pace with the movement of the frames.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising two climbing masts (10,10'); a plurality of climbing rods (6) mounted to each of said climbing masts; a climbing frame (4) and associated climbing members (2) mounted to each climbing mast and associated with respective climbing rods; a load frame (5) mounted to each climbing mast and coupled to an associated climbing frame; a stage support (8) mounted to each climbing mast and coupled to an associated climbing frame (4); each climbing mast including at least one support cleat (31); and means (7) interconnecting the load frames (5) of at least two climbing masts for supporting said load (15) thereon. 

1. Apparatus for lifting and/or lowering a heavy load (15) in a plurality of stages along at least one climbing mast (10,10''), comprising: at least one climbing mast (10,10''); a plurality of climbing rods (6); a climbing frame (4); a plurality of climbing members (2) mounted to said climbing frame (4), each climbing member (2) cooperating with a respective climbing rod (6) for lifting and/or lowering said climbing frame (4) relative to said at least one climbing mast (10,10''); a load frame (5) carrying at least a part of the load (15) and being coupled to and below said climbing frame (4); a stage support (8) cooperatively coupled via respective climbing rods (6) with said climbing frame (4); at least one support cleat (31) mounted to said at least one climbing mast (10,10''); and connecting means (11) for selectively engaging said at least one cleat (31) with at least one of said frames (4,5) and stage support (8) so as to carry the load on said at least one cleat (31) for at least a portion of a complete stage lifting period, a stage lifting period comprising the period for moving the load over a complete section of said at least one climbing mast (10,10''), thereby relieving the load from said climbing rods (6).
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said frames (4,5) and stage support (8) has a cleat (31'') coupled thereto, said connecting means (11) selectively engaging both of said cleats (31,31'').
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said respective frames (4,5) and stage support (8) completely surround said at least one climbing mast, viewed in the cross section of the masts.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frames (4,5) and stage support (8) are located in the sequence, viewed in the vertical direction of said at least one mast with the load frame (5) lowermost, above this the climbing frame (4) and uppermost the stage support (8).
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said climbing rods (6) are fastened in said stage support (8) and in the load frame (5) so that said stage support (8) transmits both upward and downward forces and said load frame (5) transmits downward forces to said climbing rods (6).
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a ball joint means coupling said load frame (5) to said load (15).
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each section of said at least one climbing mast is provided with respective support cleats; and wherein the respective frames (4,5) and stage support (8) are each provided with other respective cleats and with respective connecting means for selectively engaging said other respective cleats with said mast support cleats at least on some occasion during a complete lifting period of said load (15).
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said climbing frame (4) comprises two double-acting jacks (2a,2b) which interact with each other via two yokes (12,13).
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one climbing mast is a multi-section (41-45) climbing mast.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said sections (41-45) of said at least one climbing mast are successively coupled to or dismounted from the immediately preceding section in pace with the movement of the frames.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising two climbing masts (10,10''); a plurality of climbing rods (6) mounted to each of said climbing masts; a climbing frame (4) and associated climbing members (2) mounted to each climbing mast and associated with respective climbing rods; a load frame (5) mounted to each climbing mast and coupled to an associated climbing frame; a stage support (8) mounted to each climbing mast and coupled to an associated climbing frame (4); each climbing mast including at least one support cleat (31); and means (7) interconnecting the load frames (5) of at least two climbing masts for supporting said load (15) thereon. 